The Blackhawks are considering drafting the son of a famous Canadiens Saku Koviu

As the clock ticks down to the NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks, guided by General Manager Kyle Davidson, seem to be setting their sights on a notable prospect: Aatos Koivu, the son of former Canadiens captain Saku Koivu.

With just eight days left until the draft kicks off, speculation is mounting around the Blackhawks' interest in the young centre.

At 17 years old, Aatos Koivu boasts impressive stats from his time with TPS U18 and TPS U20 in Finland, playing a total of 48 games during which he netted 25 goals and contributed 28 assists, accumulating 53 points along with 38 penalty minutes.

His gameplay is highlighted by his adept shooting skills, particularly his curl and drag wrister, making him a « legitimate shooter of the puck, » as noted by eliteprospects.com.

Rankings have varied, placing Koivu anywhere from 27th by NHL Central Scouting to 118th by DobberProspects. This variance underscores a potential opportunity for the Blackhawks to leverage their 18th overall pick to add the much-needed offensive prowess to their roster.

The team's strategic positioning in the draft could see them making a decisive move for Koivu.

Looking ahead, the Blackhawks are gearing up for what appears to be a transformative season. With 15 players already signed and over $32 million in cap space, the management is clearly preparing to bolster their lineup.

However, challenges loom as eight players, including four restricted free agents with arbitration rights, await decisions on their future with the team. This balancing act of salaries will be crucial, especially with prospects like Bedard and Kevin Kochinski anticipating extensions in the coming years.

The first round of the NHL Draft is scheduled for June 28th at 7:00 PM Eastern Time, where Davidson's draft strategy will be put to the test as the Blackhawks aim to transition from rebuilding to contending.

With the addition of players like Koivu, the team hopes to inject new energy and scoring capability, aligning with their objectives for a successful season ahead.